Dispensing device



Oct. 23, 1934. w. .E. HANAHAN DISPENSING DEVICE Filed Feb. 1. 1932 Patented Oct. 23, 1934 UNITEDQQSTATES PATENT OFFICE Application Feb a y 13 Claims.

This invention relates to dispensing devices, and more particularly to serving trays or Waiters upon which beverage containers and other articles and accessories may be carried and from 5 which they may be readily served to customers or, guests.

In itspreferred embodiment, the invention contemplates the provision of a tray which comprises essentially a rack within which glasses or paper cups may be disposed, a compartment for containing other articles such as packages of cake, candy, chewing. gum, cigarettes or the like, which compartment may be raised and lowered with respect to the beverage container rack and is adapted to provide a protective cover for such containers.

It is also an object of the present invention to provide a base and a supporting standard for a tray of this type, the standard being hollow and thus constituting a compartment for beverage straws, spoons or similar elongated; articles or accessories. With the standard .is .also adapted to be associated various mechanism for raising the package compartment and retaining it in raised position, means 'for dispensing the articles contained within the hollow standard, and a handle by which the tray or dispensing device may be lifted and transported.

Other objects and features of novelty, including the provision of an adapter for the beverage tray whereby small as well as-large glasses or cups may be supported, will be apparent from the following specification when read in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which certain embodiments of my invention are illustrated by way of example.

In the drawing: 7 a Figure 1 is an elevational view of my improved dispensing device, portions being shown in vertical cross-section; 1

I Figure 21s a horizontal cross-section of the supporting standard taken. on line 22 of Figure 1; l r

Figure 3 is a fragmentary horizontal crosssectional view taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.; and

1932, Serial No. 590,285

rectangular. An opening 15 is formed at the center of therack 10 through which the standard 12 isadapted to extend, the rack being secured to the standard at this point by any suitable means such as welding or soldering. At suitable intervals throughout the surface of the rack 10 openings 1'? are formed, the margins of which may be spun or bent downwardly so as to form the depending flanges 18. These openings 17 are of such dimensions as to receive a beverage glass or paper cup of a relatively large size so that such cups, indicated for example at 20, may extend a definite uniform convenient distance above the rack 10. For the accommodation of glasses or cups of smaller size, such as indicated at 21, an annular adapter 22 is provided. These adapters may be formed of sheet metal and are preferably provided with a depending flange 23 and an annular depressed shoulder 24 which is adapted to fit snugly within any of the rack openings 17. The cup-receiving opening 25 of the adapter is of such dimension as will position the top of the smaller size beverage containers at approximately the same level as those of the larger containers 20.

The tray or container 11 which may be used to transport packages of cake, candy, sandwiches or the like, is arranged for vertical reciprocation along the standard 12 with respect to the rack 10 and for this purpose is provided with the central opening 27, around the margins of which is secured the annular plate or washer 28. The compartment 11 is preferably provided with a cover or lid 30, a central opening 31 of which is provided with an elongated flange 32 around its margins, which flange is adapted to slidingly contact with the standard 12 whenever the container 11 or the lid 13 is raised or lowered. For the purpose ofraising the lid or cover 30 separately from the tray or container 11, the finger grips 33 are provided.

'The mechanism-for raising the container 11 will now be described. In the embodiment illustrated in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawing, the standard 12 is provided with the oppositely disposed vertical slots 35, each of which is provided at its upper end with oppositely laterally directed extensions 36 providing, in effect, bayonet slots, thepurpose of which will be described. A vertical rod 40 is adapted to extend axially of the standard 12 and is provided at its lower end with the cross rod 41, the ends of which are adapted to extend through the slots 35 and upon which the annular ring 28, which is secured to the bottom of the pan 11, is adapted to rest. The upper I end of the vertical rod 40 is provided with the At an intermediate point along its length there is secured to the vertical rod 40 the plate or disc 48 which is of the same diameter as the interior of the tubular standard 12. At the top of the rod 40 there is provided a lid or cover 49 which is adapted to close the upper end of the standard 12 when the lifting mechanism is in its lowermost position. Between this bottom disc or plate 48 and the lid 49 there is formed within the interior of the standard 12 an elongated vertically extending compartment which is particularly adapted for carrying and dispensing beverage straws, such as indicated at 50, spoons or other elongated articles or accessories. The plate 48 and lid 49 also serve to center the lifting rod 40 with respect to the standard 12.

It will be understood that the bottom of the pan or container 11 in its lowermost position is adapted to provide a cover for the glasses or other beverage containers 20 and 21 during transportation and that these glasses or containers may be removed from the rack 10 when the container or compartment 11 is raised by operating the rod 40. At the same time that the container 11 is raised, the plate or disc 48 will move upwardly, within the standard 12 and the lid 49 will also be raised from the upper end of the standard 12. This, of course, will carry the straws 50 upwardly out of the standard 12, so that they may be easily removed by the user. In order to maintain the compartment 11 and the straw-dispenser in its uppermost position, the rod 40 is rotated so as to bring the ends of the cross member 41 into the lateral extensions 36 of the slots 35.

A handle 51 which is pivoted as at 52 in the standard 12 is provided for lifting and transporting the dispensing device.

A modified form of retaining means for holding the container 11 in its uppermost position is illustrated in Figure 4 of the drawing. In this embodiment the vertical rod 40 is provided at its lower end with the cross member 55, the ends of which are adapted to project through the slots 56 formed in the standard 12, these ends also being secured as by welding or soldering to the margins of the opening 27 in the tray or container 11. Secured by soldering or any other convenient means as at 57 within the interior of the compartment 11 are the spring clips 58, the upper ends of which are provided with the inwardly extending curved portions 59. When the container 11 is raised to its desired upper position these projections 59 are adapted to snap into indentations or holes 60 provided in the outer surface of the wall of the standard 12. The tension of the spring clips 58 is just sufiicient to hold the tray in its uppermost position and may be released by forcing the rod 40 downward by suitable manipulation of the handle ring 43. In this latter embodiment, the cross member 55 of the vertical shaft 40 being secured to the bottom of the container 11, the container is prevented from rotating with respect to the standard 12 and inwardly directed lugs such as 45 in the first described embodiment are not necessary in this case.

It will thus be seen that by means of the present invention there has been provided a novel and improved dispensing device or carrying tray by means of which beverages and other refreshments may be transported and served to customers in a convenient and sanitary manner, and the device thus provided will be particularly advantageous for use by establishments which make a specialty of curb service for motorists or tourists.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a dispensing device of the class described, in combination, a vertical hollow standard, a tray slidably carried by said standard, and operating means disposed within said standard for raising and lowering said tray relatively to said standard, said means comprising a vertical manually operable rod, and a cross member secured to said rod extending through slots formed in the walls of said standard and adapted to engage said tray.

2. In a dispensing device of the class described, in combination, a vertical hollow standard. a tray slidably carried by said standard, and operating means disposed within said standard for raising and lowering said tray relatively to said standard, said means comprising a vertical manually operable red, one end of which is adapted to project beyond the end of said standard, a handle on the end of said rod, and a cross member secured to said rod extending through oppositely disposed vertical slots formed in the walls of said standard and adapted to engage said tray.

3. In a dispensing device of the class described, in combination, a vertical hollow standard, a tray slidably carried by said standard, operating means disposed within said standard for raising and lowering said tray relatively to said standard, said means comprising a vertical manually operable rod, one end of which is adapted to project beyond the end of said standard, a handle on the end of said rod, and a cross member secured to said rod extending through oppositely disposed vertical slots formed in the walls of said standard and adapted to engage said tray, and retaining means for holding said tray in raised position, comprising notches provided in the edges of said slots within which said cross member is adapted to be disposed upon rotation thereof.

4. In a dispensing device of the class described, in combination, a vertical hollow standard, a tray slidably carried by said standard, operating means disposed within said standard for raising and lowering said tray relatively to said standard, said means comprising a vertical manually operable rod, one end of which is adapted to project beyond the end of said standard, a handle on the end of said rod, and a cross member secured to said rod extending through oppositely disposed vertical slots formed in the walls of said standard and adapted to engage said tray, and retaining means for holding said tray in raised position, comprising a notch formed in the wall of said standard, and a spring detent carried by said tray and adapted to engage said notch.

5. In a device of the class described, in combination, a vertical standard, a rack for beverage containers or the like, a common cover for all of said containers carried by said standard, an

article containing compartment within said standard, and a common manually operable means for raising and lowering said cover and dispensing said articles in said compartment.

6. In a device of the class described, a vertical supporting standard, a rack, a protective cover for articles which are adapted to be supported by said rack, a compartment formed in said standard for the reception of associated articles, a vertically reciprocable rod disposed within said standard, a cross member secured to said rod and adapted to engage said cover, and a member carried by said rod and adapted to form a movable bottom for said compartment, whereby lifting said rod will serve to raise said cover and at the same time dispense the contents of said compartment.

7. In a device of the class described, in combination, a vertical standard, a rack carried by said standard and adapted to support beverage containers or the like, an article supporting tray carried by said standard and adapted to constitute a removable protective cover for said containers, a compartment formed in said standard for the reception of articles associated with said beverage containers or said first named articles, a vertically reciprocable rod disposed within said standard, a cross member secured to said rod and adapted to extend through slots in said standard and to engage said tray, a disc carried by said rod and adapted to form a movable bottom for said compartment whereby lifting said rod will serve to raise said tray from the tops of said containers and at the same time project the contents of said compartment above the upper end of said standard, and a lifting or carrying handle attached to the upper end of said standard.

8. In a dispensing device of the class described, in combination, a vertical hollow standard, a rack for beverage containers or the like, a common cover for said containers slidably carried by said standard, and operating means disposed within said standard for raising and lowering said cover relatively to said standard and to said rack, said means comprising a vertical, manually operable rod, and a cross member secured to said rod extending through slots formed in the walls of said standard and adapted to engage said cover.

9. In a dispensing device of the class described, in combination, a vertical hollow standard, a rack for beverage containers or the like, a common cover for said containers slidably carried by said standard, operating means disposed within said standard for raising and lowering said cover relatively to said standard and to said rack, said means comprising a vertical manually operable rod, one end of which is adapted to project beyond the end of said standard, a handle on the end of said rod, and a cross member secured to said rod extending through oppositely disposed vertical slots formed in the walls of said standard and adapted to engage said cover, and retaining means for holding said cover in raised position, comprising notches provided in the edges of said slots within which said cross member is adapted to be disposed upon rotation thereof.

10. In a dispensing on serving device of the class described, in combination, a supporting stand, means for manually lifting and transporting said stand, a rack for individual open top drinking containers carried by said stand, a protective cover for said containers, a. holder for accessories for said containers or the like also carried by said stand, and common actuating means for removing said cover from said containers and dispensing said accessories from said holder.

11. In a dispensing or serving device of the class described, in combination, a supporting standard, an article-containing tray carried by said standard and vertically removable with respect thereto for greater accessibility, a compartment provided within said standard for allied articles adapted for simultaneous use with said first named articles, and common mechanism for lifting said tray for convenient access to the articles therein and at the same time projecting said second named articles from said standard.

12. In a multiple, portable, dispensing carrier of the class described, in combination, a base, a hollow standard rigid with said base and extending vertically therefrom, a handle on said standard whereby said carrier may be lifted and. transported, a rack for beverage containers or the like carried by said standard, a compartment within said hollow standard for containing accessories for said beverage containers or the like, and operative mechanism associated with said standard for dispensing said accessories from said compartment.

13. In a multiple, portable, dispensing carrier of the class described, in combination, a base, a hollow standard rigid with said base and extending vertically therefrom, a handle on said standard whereby said carrier may be lifted and transported, a rack for beverage containers or the like carried by said standard, a compartment within said hollow standard for containing accessories for said beverage containers or the like, and operative mechanism carried by said standard and formed separately from said handle for dispensing said accessories from said compartment.

WILLIAM E. HANAHAN. 

